Our first group set out in the morning to work with a ministry called, "The Wider Circle." This ministry provides furniture for families who are transitioning from living in homeless shelters into homes of their one. We put furniture together, picked up donated furniture and searched the University of Maryland campus for mattresses the office of residence life was giving away. With every mattress we found, the representative from the organization would say, "that is one less kid sleeping on the floor." The passion of our team was met with equal passion from the staff at The Wider Circle.
In the afternoon we began really engaging in the lives of kids in DC. We worked in a summer camp program hosted by a local church. I use the term camp very loosely. This program was under-staffed and severely underfunded. The staff was over joyed to see our team show up. We were able to give them a much needed break by playing with the kids all afternoon long. We even taught the kids a song or two. One of the songs we taught was called, "Do You Love Your Jesus?" To hear their little voices shout, "yes I love my Jesus, deep down in my heart" was the sweetest sound I have heard all week.
The second group did their Urban Plunge this afternoon. The Urban Plunge puts you right in the center of poverty and asks you to get to know the faces of homelessness first hand. Our team came back with great stories of learning about poverty first hand as well as sharing their faith with the people with whom they also shared a meal.
The third group went back to a day care center where they had worked a day earlier. They did such a great job building relationships the day before, they were able to jump right in and continue the good work God had already started. Their were reports of the team remember every kids name at the center and many of the kids remembering the team member's names as well. God has blessed our team with the ability to build wonderful relationships in short periods of time. However, what an even greater blessing to be able to spend extra time taking those relationships to an even deeper level.
We ended the day with Porch Time on the steps of the National Cathedral. It was wonderful to sit in the shadows of such a grand building, but still realize that God lives in our hearts and not in man made structures, no matter how ornate or beautiful.
We are looking forward to seeing God show up on Wednesday. Continue to pray that we would have eyes to see and ears to hear all that God is doing around us on this trip.
More to come...
